Game apparatus



1940- H. E. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,226,885

GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I a Jun m Mr J. Il Jlliams wfiy nA.fim'a/ui INVENTORS.

7 :10 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. $1, 1940 STATES GAME APIARATUS Harry E. Williams andLyndon A. Durant, Chicago, Ill.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apDa ratus, particularly theso-called pin ball or bagatelle games, and has for its principal objectthe provision of a novel score control mechanism including a confinedball on the playboard and mechanism for automatically causing the ballto move back and forth when a certain score has been achieved, therebeing score. indicating and control mechanism actuated by the confinedball in a certain manner.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide,in a pin ball game or like apparatus having a ball playing board withcertain score objectives thereon, such for example as ball-operatedswitches in ball pockets, novelty score control means comprising a ballconfined in a pen on the top of the board and electromagnetic meansbeneath the board for causing the ball to move back and forth in the penwhen a certain score objective is obtained, together with a scoreindicating board, and a. stepping switch actuated by the ball each timethe same moves across the pen, to register a score depending upon thevalue of the particular objective obtained,

"" and means for automatically stopping the confined ball when theappropriate score has been indicated. 7

A further object is the provision of a novelty control device in thenature of a pen mounted on the top side of the ball playing board andadapted to confine a magnetically attractable ball free to move back andforth between the opposite ends of the pen. magnetic means arrangedbeneath the board, and switch means situated approximately midwaybetween the ends of the pen for operation by the ball to break thecircuit for the magnetic attracting means periodically and therebyeffect the back and forth movement of I the ball, said switch means alsobeing adapted for connection in a score control circuit.

Yet another object is the combination of the foregoing novelty controldevice with various score objectives or ball switches on the play- Hboard and severally actuated by skillful playing of the game such thatdifferent objectives or pockets will have different values and cause theconfined ball to be moved back and forth a certain number of timesdepending upon that score of the component parts of the illustrativeemvalue, togetherwith score indicating means operbodiment describedhereinafter in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is-a fragmentary perspective of a pin ball game showing theconfined control ball;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section along 5 line 22 of Fig. 1,showing the magnetic ball moving means and ball restoring means for theregular score pockets;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the ball pen anddriving magnet taken 10 along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switching mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

Referring to Fig. 1, a preferred form of amuse- 16 ment apparatus inwhich the invention has been successfully incorporated includes a ballplaying board It on which are situated a number of objectives or ballpockets Ii, Ha, lib, etc. At one side of the board is a projecting alleyI! up which playing balls are projected by any suitable means formovement onto the playboard with the object of lodgment in one of thepockets ll. The projecting means is not illustrated, since such devicesare commonly known in the art and do not form per se part of the presentinvention. At the rear of the playboard is a score indicating panel l3with suitable score indicating indicia M delineated thereon and adaptedto be illuminated by electric lamps situated behind correspondingnumbers and adapted to be illuminated by certain control mechanismdescribed hereinafter and operated dependently upon the lodgment of aball in one or another of the score pockets ll, Ha, etc.

The novelty control means constituting the principal feature of thepresent invention is so called because it combines the visual efiect ofthe movement of a confined ball back and forth with the visual effect ofilluminated lamps on the score control panel, there being an element ofentertainment, interest fixation, and fascination in watching thecontrol ball oscillate back and forth in its pen and correlating themovement of this ball with the fluctuating illumination of the lamps inthe score control panel.

The novelty control means includes the provision on the playboard ill ofmeans for confining the control ball for movement in a predeterminedpath, said means in the present instance comprising the provision of apair of parallel rails l5 extending preferably transversely of the board(the latter being tilted downwardly from the panel 13 in most games),there being bumpers l6 provided at opposite ends of the alley or pendefined by the rails. A magnetically attractable ball ll is confinedbetween the rails and is free to move back and forth against the bumpersl6. A guard rail i8 is disposed on the uppermost side of the pen toprevent arrest of the playing balls and assure movement thereof towardthe scoring pockets.

Means for effecting movement of the confined ball in the pen includesthe provision of an electromagnet l9 (Figs. 2 or 3) mounted beneath theboard with its core or armature 2i! situated midway between the ends ofthe pen, the winding of the magnet being adequate to set up a magneticfield strong enough to attract the ball to the core from an extremeposition at either end of the alley or pen. A control button 2! isdisposed at the mid point in the pen for engagement and depression bythe ball ll when attracted by the magnet to close a control switch 22.This switch, as will appear in the description of the circuit diagramhereinafter, is arranged to efiect an opening of the energizing circuitfor the magnet so that the ball may move off the button 2| by thecombined restorative action of the same coacting with the spring arm ofswitch 22 which holds it in normally raised condition, and the momentumgained by the ball in being attracted onto the button.

The score objectives Ha, etc., each include a ball-operated controldevice, such for example as the leaf spring switches 23, 23a, 231),which are normally open and adapted to be closed by a ball dropping intothe corresponding pocket. Any well-known means may be provided foreffecting removal of the balls from the score pockets, the presentembodiment by preference employing kick-outs each comprising an arm 24attached to the plunger 25 of a solenoid 26 mounted beneath the boardadjacent each of the score pockets, the solenoids being energized toeffect raising movement of the arms 24, which lifts the ball in thecorresponding pocket out of the latter for gravitation down theplayboard to be reused.

The circuit connections and cooperating switching means employed inconjunction with the novelty control device includes a commutating orlimit switch generally indicated at 30 in the circuit diagram of Fig. 5.The commutating or limit switch employed in the present arrangement isprovided with three banks of contacts 3|, 32 and 33, each correspondingto one of the score pockets ll, Ila or lib. Bank 3| is connected by aconductor 3|a to one terminal of the score switch 23 corresponding tothe score pocket I I, the other side of this score switch, along withone terminal of each of the remaining score switches, being connected bya common conductor 35 to one terminal of a battery 36. Similarly, theremaining two banks 32 and 33 are connected by common conductors 32a and33a to the corresponding score switches 23a, 23b, and the remainingterminal of the battery 33 is connected to a common conductor 31.

Each bank of commutator contacts is provided with a wiper connected incommon by conductor 38 to one terminal of a holding relay 39, theremaining terminal of which is connected by conductor 40 to one contactof a spring switch with a normally closed contact 4| connected to thecommon battery return 31. Thus, when any of the score switches is closedby a ball dropping into a pocket, a power circuit will be closed throughone of the commutator banks 3|, 32, 33 to energize the holding relay 33,and this relay will close contacts 32 (switch A, Fig. 4), thusconnecting battery from feeder 35 to the ball attracting magnet windingIS, the opposite terminal of which is connected through a normallyclosed switch 43 in circuit with the battery return conductor 31.

The ball attracting magnet l9 having been energized as aforesaid, themagnetically attractable ball H will be attracted to the button 2|, thecombined weight of the ball and force of attraction of the field of themagnet, causing the switch 22 to be closed, thus connecting batterythrough switch 42 to one terminal of the step-up delay magnet 44,circuit to which is completed from its remaining terminal to the batteryreturn conductor 31. Operation of the delay magnet M closes a switch 45,as indicated by dotted lines,

thus connecting battery from conductor 35 to the strapped terminals ofthe score step-up magnet 54 and the commutator stepping magnet 16, thereturn terminal of the score magnet being connected to the batteryfeeder 31 while the re maining terminal of the commutator magnet isconnected to one terminal 41 of a normally open spring switch contact 48(switch B, Fig. 4) (which is closed by holding relay 39) connected tothe return side of the battery 31, thus causing the commutator wipers tohe stepped around by action of a ratchet mechanism 46a (Fig. 4) drivenby the step-up magnet or solenoid 43.

If a ball has been lodged in pocket having an assigned score value of1000 points, the switch 43 (D in Fig. 4), as indicated by the dottedline arrow in Fig. 4, is normally closed (see Fig. 5 also) and will beopened each time the magnet 44 is energized, thus opening the circuit tothe ball attracting magnet l9 momentarily, with the result that thecombined restorative action of the ball-operated control switch 22 inrestoring button 2| to raised position, and the momentum of the ball,will assure that the ball moves away from, the button 2| so that switch22 will again open, thus deenergizing the delay magnet 44 and thestepping magnet 46, which immediately restores switch 43 to closedcircuit condition so that the ball magnet I9 is again energized with aconsequent return of the ball onto the control button 2| and arepetition of the foregoing action of the delay and stepping magnets.The delay magnet 44 is regulated to release slowly enough to give theball time to move a substantial distance away from the button beforebeing attracted again.

From this description, it will appear that each time the ball isattracted to engage the button 2|, the commutator switch is steppedonce, but since there are a different number of contacts in each of thebanks 3|, 32, and 33, the number of times the commutating switch willstep will depend upon which of the scoring switches 23, 23a, etc., isclosed by the ball. In this manner the different score values of thevarious pockets are accounted for.

The score indicating means includes a bank of lamps 50 each having oneterminal connected in common to the battery feeder 31 and each havingits remaining terminal connected to one of the contacts 5| in thecontact bank of score switch generally indicated at 52 in Fig. 4, thisswitch also being a stepping switch similar to the commutator switch 30and having a wiper contact arm 53 connected to the other battery feeder35. Thus, energization of the stepping magnet 53 of the score switchwill cause wiper 33 to move successively into engagement with theaaaasss 3 contacts 5| to illuminate one or another of the lamps 50 whichare situated behind'the score panel l3.

Switch 45, as indicated by the dotted line arrow 5 in the circuitdiagram, is operated by the stepup delay coil.

The stepping magnet 54 of the score switch, it will be recalled, isenergized by action of switch 45 each time the ball switch 23 is closed,and the 1 number of times the score switch will step will therefore bedetermined by which bank of contacts 3|, 32 or 33 has been connected bylodgment of a playing ball in one of the score pockets to step thecommutator switch; but since the num- 15 her of contacts in each bank ofthe commutator switch is different, it will be apparent that the scoreswitch will he stepped a difl'erent number of times depending upon thescore value of the 30 the result that contact arm 48 falls back to en- 1gage contact 49 and connect battery from conductor 31 to one terminal ofa commutator reset solenoid 60, the remaining terminal of which isconnected through a normally open zero-break 35 switch iii to the otherbattery terminal, switch 6| (see Fig. 4) being normally held open by apin 62 on the ratchet means 46a when the latter is in its initial orzero position, switch 6! closing when the commutator switch makes evenone step 40 from initial position, and remaining closed until magnet 60is energized for the purpose of restoring the commutator switch to itszero position. Both the score and commutator switches employ springmeans tensioned by stepping of the switch- 45 es away from initialposition and efiective to restore the wipers to such positionwhen asuitable latching pawl is released by action of the magnet 60, forexample, in the commutator switch.

50 The score switch is reset to zero condition by energization of itsresetting solenoid 65, one terminal of which is' connected to commonbattery conductor 3'! 'and the other terminal of which is connectedthrough a manu- 55 ally controlled switch 63 adapted to be closed byoperation of a coin slide 61 or other master control device associatedwith the game apparatus.='

Detailed statement of operation Assuming that the game apparatus is inthe condition shown in the several figures and the player projects aplaying ball up the alley i2,

and a ball migrates into the opening H, the corresponding ball switch 23(Fig. 5) will be closed and connect battery from conductor 35 throughthe first contact of contact bank 3| to the rotary wiper and thence viaconductor 38 through the winding of holding relay 39, conductor 40,switch 704i, to return to battery via conductor 31, thus causing r'elay39 to pull up and close switches 42 and 48.

As a result of the closure of switch 42 by the holding relay, battery isconnected through the 75 commutator switch to one side of the ballattracting magnet I 9 and through the closed switch 43 (D) to batteryreturn 31, thus energizing the magnet I9 and attracting the ball I! ontobutton 2i, with a resultant closure of switch 22, which in turn connectsbattery to the step-up delay sole- 5 noid 44, in consequence of whichswitches 43 and 45 (D and C) are respectively opened and closed.

- Opening of switch 43 breaks the ball magnet circuit, with a consequentopening of switch 22 to the delay relay; meanwhile, closing of switch 45(C) energizes solenoid 54 to step the score counter once, and solenoid46 to step the commutator switch once (switch 48 (B) meanwhile havingbeen closed by action of the hold-' ing relay 39). When the ball rollsoff the button 2|, switch 22 opens as aforesaid, and after a very shortinterval the delay solenoid 44 is released, again causing switch 43 toclose to energize the ball attracting magnet which pulls the ball backonto the button with a repetition of the operation of the delay relayand the score and commutator switch solenoids, this action beingrepeated a number of times corresponding to the number of contacts inbank 3|.

Should the ball have lodged in pocket Hb, instead, the same train ofevents would take place, with the exception that the score andcommutating switches would be stepped a greater number of times owing tothe larger number of contacts in bank as. 80

As soon as the commutator wiper passes the last contact in the bankenergized by a scoring ball, holding relay 39 is released and switch arm48 drops back to engage contact 49 and connect battery to the commutatorreset solenoid 60, the zero break switch 6! being closed at this timeand opened as soon as the ratchet pin 62 is restored to normal positionagainst switch 8|.

In order to dislodge the scoring balls from the pockets, the presentarrangement provides 0 for the closing of switch 4| by the momentaryoperation of the resetting solenoid 60 and associated restoringmechanism, switch M connecting battery to the three kick-out solenoids26, 26a, 26b, thus throwing any and all bails out of the scoringpockets. The score which has been set up on the panel i3 may be clearedby operation of the master control 61 to close switch 66 and energizesolenoid 65, which will release the ratchet mechanism of the scoreswitch for restoration by its spring means to zero position.'

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplishedby modifications of, the particular embodiment specifically describedherein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include allequivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an amusement apparatus including a ball playing board and meansfor playing balls thereon, together with a score objective to beattained by playing one or more of said balls in a certain manner,novelty score control means comprising 55 a magnetically attractablecontrol ball, and means confining the same for limited movement in apredetermined area on said board, electromagnetic means for effectingmovement of said magnetically attractable control ball back and 70 forthin said area, score objective means operably controlled by a ball playedon said board for energizing saidelectromagnetic means, score indi-.cating means and switching mechanism operably effecting energization ofsaid electromagnetic means to cause movement of said control balldifferent amounts depending upon which score objective is achieved asaforesaid, and switching means operatively controlled by said ball inthe movement thereof for operating said score indicating means toindicate a score corresponding to the particular score objectiveobtained.

2. In an amusement apparatus including a ball playing board and meansfor playing balls thereon together with ball scoring pockets in whichplaying balls are to be lodged in playing the game, novelty controlmeans comprising, in combination, a score switch operatively associatedwith each score pocket, a ball pen on said board, a magneticallyattractable control ball arranged for movement back and forth in saidpen, electromagnetic attracting means situated to attract said controlball to a certain position in the pen, a switch operated by said ball inthe pen at said certain position, said score switches being connected ina circuit to energize said attracting means when a ball is lodged in ascore pocket, means actuated by said switch operated by the magneticallyattractable control ball to deenergize said attracting meansmomentarily,- means for causing said control ball to move away from saidcertain position after deenergization of the attracting means, andimpulse-operated switching mechanism operably controlled by said switchwhich is actuated by the control ball.

- 3. In an amusement apparatus including a ballv playing board and meansfor playingballs thereon together with ball scoring pockets in whichplaying balls are to be lodged in playing the game, novelty controlmeans comprising, in combination, a score switch operatively associatedwith each score pocket, a ball pen on said board, a magneticallyattractable control ball arranged for movement back and forth in saidpen, electromagnetic attracting means situated to attract said controlball to a certain position in the pen, a switch operated by said ball inthe pen at said certain position, said score switches being connected ina circuit to energize said attracting means when a ball is lodged in ascore pocket, means actuated by said switch operated by the magneticallyattractable control ball to deenergize said attracting meansmomentarily, means for causing said control ball to move away from saidcertain position after deenergization of the attracting means, andimpulse-operated switching mechanism operably controlled by said switchwhich is actuated by the control ball, said switching mechanism beingarranged and constructed to be impulsed a different number of timesdepending upon which score switch has been operated and to effectdeenergization of said electromagnetic attracting means at thetermination of said predetermined number of impulse operationscorresponding to the particular score switch operated by lodgment of aball in a particular pocket, together with score indicating mechanismoperably controlled by. the switch actuated by the control ball in thepen, and means coacting with said switching mechanism for restoring thesame to an initial condition after each operation thereof by lodgment ofa ball in a particular pocket. 7

4. In a ball game apparatus including a playing board and means forprojecting balls on said board for movement into one of a plurality ofscore pockets, novelty score control mechanism comprising, incombination, a score switch operatively associated with each scorepocket for operation by a ball lodged therein, an elongated confinedrunway on said board, a magnetically attractable control ball in saidrunway, electromagnetic means arranged to attract said ball toward themiddle of the runway, a control switch arranged in said runway foroperation by a control ball when attracted as aforesaid, an electricallyoperable stepping switch including a number of common contacts in banks,there being as many banks as there are score pockets, each of said scoreswitches being connected with one of said banks in a power circuit foractuating said stepping switch, lodgment of a ball in one of saidpockets effecting operation of the stepping switch a number of timescorresponding to the number of contacts in the corresponding bank, saidstepping switch and said score switch means cooperating to effectenergization of said attracting means, said switch operated by thecontrol ball cooperating with said stepping switch to effect steppingoperation of the latter and intermittent deenergization of saidattracting means, whereby the stepping switch will step each time theball is attracted, the number of steps depending upon which of saidscore switches is operated as aforesaid, and score indicating mechanismoperably controlled by said stepping switch.

5. In an amusement device including ball playing means with ball pocketshaving assigned score values in which a ball is to be lodged by playingthe game, score control means compris ing in combination: a score switchoperatively associated with each pocket, a ball pen arranged in view ofthe player, a control ball movable back and forth in the pen,electrically actuated means for effecting said movement of the ball, acontrol ball switch actuated intermittently by the control ball movingas aforesaid, and impulseoperated switching means in circuit with saidball moving means and eachsaid score switch and arranged to be operateda different number of times determined by different score switchescooperable with the operations of said control ball switch, andelectrical score indicating means operated in steps by cooperation ofsaid control ball switch and impulse-operated switching means.

6. In an amusement device including ball playing means with ball scorepockets each having a difierent assigned score value and each pockethaving a score switch operated by a ball therein, novelty score controlmeans comprising, in combination, an electrically operated scoreindicator adapted to be operated in steps, a stepping score switch foroperating said indicator, a ball pen, an electromagnetic ball in saidpen, electromagnetic means for attracting said ball to a certainposition in the pen, means cooperating with said attracting means foreffecting movement of said ball away from said position when not underthe influence of said attracting means; and switching mechanismincluding a control ball switch situated adjacent said certain positionfor actuation each time the control ball is attracted as aforesaid, andan electrically operated limit switch connected in a circuit with eachscore switch, said control ball switch and said stepping score switch tocause said control ball to move to said certain position a number oftimes corresponding to the assigned score'value of whichever scoreswitch is operated, said stepping switch being stepped a correspondingnumber of times.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further characterized by thecombination therewith of electrically actuatedmeans for automaticallydislodging balls from score pockets at the conclusion of eachoperation-of said stepping switch by lodgment of a ball in a scorepocket.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further characterized by theprovision of electrically controlled means for restoring said limitswitch automatically to an initial starting condition subsequent to eachoperation thereof by lodgment of a ball in a score pocket, whereby tocondition the same for further operation when balls are lodged inadditional score pockets.

9. In a game apparatus including a plurality of score pockets, eachprovided with a score switch operated by a ball lodged in the pocket inplaying the game, novelty score control means comprising a ball penarranged in view of the player, a control ball in the pen, electricallyactuated means including a control ball switch operatively associatedwith the pen to be operated by the ball when moved into a certainposition therein, means for efiecting movement of the ball into and outof said position, and limit switch means connected in a circuit withsaid ball moving means, said control ball switch and each. of said scoreswitches for operation a difi'erent number of times depending uponarbitrarily assigned values for each pocket and determined by con-'nection of said limit switch means with a power circuit by operation ofa given score switch, for l moving said ball back and forth in the pen anumber of times corresponding to the arbitrary value of whichever scoreswitch is operated.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by thecombination therewith of an electrically operated visual indicatoroperable in steps, stepp switch means for operating said indicatingmeans, and means operably controlled by said control ball switch foractuating said stepping switch anumber of steps corresponding to themovement of the control ball as aforesaid.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by thecombination therewith of an electrically operated visual indicatoroperable in steps, stepping switch means for operating said indicatingmeans, and means operably controlled by said control ball switch foractuating said stepping switch a number of steps corresponding to themovement of the control ball as aforesaid, said limit switch means beingof a type moved away from a starting position a number of stepsdepending "upon the score value of the scoreswitch actuated, and meanscontrolled by said limit switch for automatically restoring the same tostarting position when it has operated the requisite number of stepsfollowing operation by any score switch.

12. In a device of the class described, novelty score control means'inthe form of a ball runway, a magnetically attractable ball confined insaid nmway, electromagnetic means for attracting said ball to apredetermined position in the runway, means for efiecting movement ofthe attracted ball away from said position when said attracting means isdeenergized, and switch means situated in the region of saidpredeteremined position for actuation by said ball when attractedthereto, said switch means being adapted for connection in a controlcircuit, and means operably controlled by said switch means forefiecting intermittent energization of said attracting means wherebysaid ball will be caused to oscillate relative to said position andefl'ect intermittent operation of said switch means.

HARRY E. WILLIAMS. LYNDON A. DURANT.

